The European Commission considers the massive Russian missile strikes against Ukraine and Belarus’ announcement to increase military presence at the borders as a “further escalation” of Russian aggression.
The “rain of rockets” on innocent civilians is unacceptable and “doesn’t belong in the 21st century”. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s accusation that Ukraine wants to attack his country is “false, unfounded and ridiculous,” said a spokesman for the executive board of the European Union.
The Commission urges Belarus to “facilitate bombing campaigns to stop immediately” and to refrain from closer military cooperation with Russia. He also said the EU is “ready to continue doing whatever is necessary” to support Ukraine financially, militarily and humanitarian. He pointed out that the EU has just launched an eighth sanctions package and hinted at more sanctions.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, called what happened in Kyiv “sickening”. “It shows the world, again, what kind of regime we are dealing with: one that targets arbitrary targets. A regime that pours terror and death on children,” she wrote on Twitter.
President Vladimir Putin has said Monday’s Russian missile strikes are in retaliation for a Ukrainian “terrorist attack” on the road bridge from Russia to the Crimean peninsula last weekend. He said that the long-range missile strikes targeted Ukraine’s energy and military communications infrastructure.
